Of Interest

Is it wishful thinking, or does the prospectus have several clues that the search committee is looking for someone who will be more supportive of intellectual diversity and free speech on campus?

Should we draw an inference from the fact that the word ‘debate’ appears four times?

Could the phrase ‘where all voices are invited and heard” be a reference to Derbyshire? I would be surprised if the drafters of this document would use the verb ‘invite’ if they did not intend readers to make a connection to that incident.

“Be an inspiring and trusted leader and convener with the ability to drive a sense of inclusiveness and respect – even in the face of controversial issues. Model civil discourse and openness to different points of view, and set high expectations for respectful discussions.”

Does this bullet point indicate a desire that the next Williams president be open even to conservative points of view?

I hope so! Other comments?

By the way, we need more authors on EphBlog! Please join us (anonymously, as I do or otherwise.) Just leave a comment on this thread and I will contact you.

2 Responses to “Prospectus Observation”

This looks like a good sign to me. It makes sense that the trustees would be disturbed by the negative attention Falk brought to the campus including a historically significant rebuke from a sitting U.S. Senator.

They must be aware that under Falk’s tenure, Williams College became one of the top ten worst schools for free speech. See,

It is difficult for me to understand how they could find fault with Zach Wood’s intention to invite conservatives to campus for the express purpose of learning better ways to confront their views.

I think it is important to keep up the pressure here if the school is going to become a safer place for those who question leftist orthodoxy. After all, I expect trustees, alumni, concerned parents and prospective students have all turned to Ephblog to get the real story.

Unfortunately, Falk’s behavior has fed into the growing dissatisfaction of Republicans with the influence of colleges on our country in general. This is the news, at least, that we get from a recent Pew Research Center Report:

The change in Republicans’ views of the effect colleges and universities have on the country is striking. Currently, 58% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents say colleges and universities have a negative effect on the way things are going in the country, while just 36% say their effect is positive, according to a survey conducted last month by Pew Research Center. Just two years ago, attitudes were the reverse: a 54% majority of Republicans and Republican leaners said colleges were having a positive effect, while 37% said their effect was negative.

I expect conservative alumni who used to cut the school a break will have second thoughts about doing that in the future. For the full article, see